The Palestinian militant group Hamas says it is aiming for talks with rivals Fatah as it aims to end their decade-long feud.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas says it is ready to dissolve the committee that rules Gaza and hold elections for the first time since 2006.

In a statement, it said it would dissolve the committee that rules Gaza and seek elections.

It also said it was aiming for more talks with rivals Fatah as it aims to end their decade-long feud.

After violent clashes between the two factions in 2007, Fatah was driven out of the Gaza Strip.

After deadly clashes in 2007, Fatah was driven out of the Gaza Strip.

Attempts by the groups to form a unity government in Gaza and the West Bank since then have failed.

Attempts by the two factions to form a unity government in Gaza and the West Bank since then have failed.

Hamas's statement said the move came as a direct result of Egyptian negotiations for Palestinian unity, saying it wanted talks "to achieve Palestinian reconciliation and end the division".

Hamas representatives have been meeting senior Egyptian officials in Cairo.

Fatah, which dominates the Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, has not yet commented on the moves by Hamas.

Fatah has not yet commented on the militant group's statement, but Egyptian media reports said a delegation was in Egypt on Saturday.

But Egyptian reports said a Fatah delegation was in Egypt on Saturday to discuss a possible reconciliation.

Hamas won the 2006 election but after the 2007 clashes, President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the Hamas prime minister. The group continued to rule over Gaza, while Fatah continued to lead the Palestinian Authority in the parts of the West Bank not under Israeli control.

The moves were key conditions for reconciliation demanded by Mr Abbas. But Associated Press reported that it is not yet clear whether Hamas is ready to place its security forces under Abbas's control - a major sticking point in the past.

Attempts by the two factions to form a unity government in Gaza and the West Bank since then have failed.

Associated Press reports that it is not yet clear whether Hamas is ready to place its security forces under Mr Abbas's control - a major sticking point in the past.

A key demand: Analysis by the BBC's Yolande Knell

It has been a key demand of President Abbas and his Fatah faction that Hamas dissolve the administrative committee that it set up in March. It is seen as a rival government to the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank.

In recent months amid deepening political divisions Mr Abbas has piled pressure on Hamas, taking some controversial steps such as reducing electricity payments for Gaza.

Egypt has long acted as a go-between to try to end the damaging rift between the two main Palestinian factions.

Hamas as a whole, or in some cases its military wing, is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the US, EU, UK and other powers.

Hamas as a whole, or in some cases its military wing, is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the US, EU, UK and other powers.

It has been the ruling authority in Gaza since 2007, when it won the parliamentary elections, defeating the then-ruling Fatah party.

Since 2007, Israel and Egypt have maintained a land and sea blockade on Gaza in an attempt to prevent attacks from Gaza-based militants.

Deadly clashes between Fatah and Hamas erupted in Gaza in June 2007, after which Hamas set up a rival government, leaving Fatah and the Palestinian Authority running parts of the West Bank not under Israeli control.

Since 2007, Israel has maintained a full blockade on Gaza.

In May, Hamas published a new policy document - the first since its founding charter.

It declared for the first time a willingness to accept an interim Palestinian state within pre-1967 boundaries, without recognising Israel.

It also says Hamas's struggle is not with Jews but with "occupying Zionist aggressors". The 1988 charter was condemned for its anti-Jewish language.